'Hot' electronics items go for a steal at auction

Hopeful bidders, game faces on, inspected televisions, computers and gaming systems lined up on the porch of an old farmhouse in Snydersville.

Just a few feet away, stood the razor-wire-topped fences of the Monroe County Correctional Facility, temporary home to some of the items’ former owners.

The county auctioned a number of household electronics Friday. They were seized as part of criminal enterprises.

The money raised at the auction goes to the Monroe County Drug Task Force for training and investigations.

This year’s auction raised $2,535, about twice as much as the last one.

“We did pretty well, didn’t we?” said Detective Eric Kerchner, smiling as the tally came in.Kerchner is the chief detective for the Monroe County District Attorney’s office and responsible for the auction.

He also served in the Vanna White role, along with Detective Kim Lippincott, together holding some of the larger items for display during bidding.